‘New Castle’ - Bloomsday 2025

Flip flops. Slipping, scraping, gravel

Echoes.

Down to the fort, don’t trip

History.

Revolutionary. 1812 too

Revere.

Paul, here. Back there, yes, so we’re told

House. 

100 years old when his horse’s shoes came clicking

Remember.

Does it remember? Who owned it then?

Gone.

Will run fingers along stitched history. Find out. Back home soon

Inlet.

Lobsters lay ‘neath rocks. Til later. Low tide not long

Unveil.

That smell, almost makes me nauseous

Dad said one time. Sometimes, yes

Overcome.

The fort. Place to hide, play, rest

Still of use. 200 years on

More.

Older now that fort than ever I’ll be. 

Young.

Old enough to know, though

Weathered.

Sturdy yet. Canon ready

Damp, winters, sea salt spray

Time.

Left their mark, haven’t won yet, never will

No.

Good to get away. This family. Always talking, always questions, telling things

Done.

No more words. For now. Ears want water, gentle waves, river’s moan

Nature.

Breath deep ever flowing liquid’s freshness

Salty.

Flops grind rocks ‘til don’t. Paved path ends

Grass.

Color pops, alight. Coast Guard. Squawk box calls codes. Words untaught, ears can’t catch

Ignore. 

Old man, hands hind back clasped in inverse prayer. Here for the same?

Alone.

No words. None needed. 

Nod.

Pipe smoke follows. Quiet contemplation’s byproduct

Sweet.

Alone now. But for the gulls, but for the river, but for the crustaceans lying just out of gull sight and mine too

Safe.

No one watching. Water’s approach. Kick flops, inhale, brace

Jump.

Bone cold. Heart resists. Easy now, control

Calm. 

Cold, good cold. Biting cold. Legs kick, seaweed, algae, rocks under feet

Slide.

Saline tickles tongue. Clear nose. Knee scrape burns

Breath.

Muscles awake. Colors pulse. Head under, all encompassed

Alive.

Tide now receding, current tugs

Moon waning, tonight modest shallows

Cast sight toward Sun, floating bugs

Cookout evening, then roasting mallows

Backstroke lightly, resisting drift

Family in from all around

Head under water, strain to lift

Day dream of dinner, Common’s grounds

Bobbing gently, fish brush legs

Been awhile since grandparents here

Sail boat passing, no pirates or pegs

Still place to spend summer every year

Backstroking now, back to the fort

Stay past the season? No, no heat in house

So damn cold, foot muscles contort

It’ll be ours someday, kids and spouse

Upper body wavers, hoisting self out

Fourth generation, matrimony’s reward

Solar warmth’s coming, tough thawing bout

Every year of life, of the house never bored

Feet ache, pulsing warm. Skin cold to touch. Step toward fort, uneasily. Jagged, jutting rocks. Tongue tastes salt on frozen lips. Knees bend, buckle. Hamstrings limit. Press on. Warm shower waits.

One bathroom. 8 people. 900 feet squared. 3 bedrooms, hallway bed, couch folds out too. Efficient, intimate. Heart pulsing, blood inflates limbs. Back to life. Seagull squawks Muscles, tight. Achilles? Fear it might snap. Gingerly now.

Cold-hot flashing, teeth chatter. Smiling. Vision blurs. Insides, face sore. Beams from above die. Cloud cover. No. Wrong time. Glance skyward, back soon. Ahead. Euphoria awaits.

The pipe. Aroma drifts, hits olfactory. Stronger now? Senses heightened? Where’s old man? Can’t be far. Feet, finally. Achilles lives. Balance back, somewhat.

Old man catches hobbling figure from eye’s corner, smiles wryly. Smirk back. Wisdom in his eyes, his slow, balanced gait. Would like to ask a question. What? Japanese, maybe? Looks it. Wouldn’t be wise to ask. Eyes wish him a good one. Safer.

Each step more confident though core still cramping. Abs showing. Not worst thing. Back to the gravel, back to pebbles flicking on sand specked pavement. Granite curbs glisten. Echoes left behind. House in sight. Sea smells fading. Warmer yet, getting there. Touch stomach, ice. 

Every degree of short road’s incline aches flip flopped feet. Closing in on coast guard sign. So close. Steps away. Let car pass, no you go, ok, thanks. Neighbors.

Almost there. Body mine again. Shower’s heat to finish job sun and steps started. In the clear, screen door. I’m home. 

Shower open? She’s on the toilet. Christ, make it quick. Journey wore like miles. Few hundred feet.

Finally. Flush. Sink. Unlock. Door. Out. In. Lock. On. In. Ah.